Unless you’re very experienced you are unlikely to solve a Mephisto without using Chambers. The idea is that you use the precise wordplay to derive an answer that you then verify in the dictionary. 8D … Read more “Mephisto 3030 by Paul McKenna”
Month: September 2018
Sunday Times Cryptic 4817, by Jeff Pearce — Like a result in the night
Pretty easy, this one. I filled in most of the acrosses, in order, in record time, and most of the rest came fairly quickly. Four anagrams, and three in a row! I even biffed a … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4817, by Jeff Pearce — Like a result in the night”
Saturday, 22 September 2018 – Times Cryptic No 27150. Pack round, people.
I rated this a middle of the road Saturday puzzle. Several clues referred to things I didn’t know, but not vital to finding the answer. My clue of the day was 11ac. I found it … Read more “Saturday, 22 September 2018 – Times Cryptic No 27150. Pack round, people.”
Jumbo 1343
I don’t recall anything particularly tricky with this one. The only unknown solution was 18A, but the wordplay was clear. If I had to pick a favourite clue from this it would probably be 10D. … Read more “Jumbo 1343”
Times 27,155: The Full Nelson
Not as tough as yesterday’s, with many fairly gentle clues to get a foothold, but a fair few chewier offerings that pushed my own time over the 10 minute mark, when I failed to think … Read more “Times 27,155: The Full Nelson”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1189 by Izetti
I approach my introduction to this blog with some trepidation given that I underestimated how difficult others would find the lovely QC from Izetti last time out and how much longer it took me today. … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1189 by Izetti”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1188 by Hurley
Slightly on the tricky side, I found, coming in two minutes over my target (with the possibly mitigating factor of a hangover). A fairly straight solve, but I was held up for a bit in … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1188 by Hurley”
Times Cryptic No 27154 Thursday, 27 September 2018? Why, then, ’tis time to do’t
I did not find this easy, taking just under 30 minutes, even though the nice long 1ac went straight in. 2 clues I only fully worked out, when writing up the proceedings, and I was … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27154 Thursday, 27 September 2018? Why, then, ’tis time to do’t”
Times 27153 – mostly 27a but more fun than shopping.
I had to put on a spurt for this one as Mrs K was waiting to drag me on a shopping expedition for such annoying trivia as curtain poles, having just moved house. No real … Read more “Times 27153 – mostly 27a but more fun than shopping.”
Quick Cryptic 1187 by Orpheus
I found this a real slog, taking over twice as long as normal to complete it, and still having to look up some of the vocabulary before blogging. On top of this ignorance (4ac, 9ac), … Read more “Quick Cryptic 1187 by Orpheus”